November 17th, which is still one month away, is the date of the non-tender. By that time, organizations will be required to make a determination regarding whether or not to tender non-guaranteed players from the 40-man roster a contract for the 2024 season. Arbitration is intended to determine the amount of money that athletes receive at that juncture; if they have accumulated sufficient service time, they are entitled to the league minimum if they have not yet qualified for arbitration.

As of today, the Cincinnati Reds have 41 players on their 40-man roster. However, once the World Series concludes, the three Cincinnati players on the 60-day injured list are no longer eligible and must be accounted for. Thus, the Reds currently have 44 participants. However, it is unlikely that the team will need to implement any substantial “cuts” in order to reach 40 players. Harrison Bader, Luke Maile, and Buck Farmer are all free agents. Curt Casali and Joey Votto both have 2024 options that the team will almost certainly not exercise and will instead allow them to become free agents. The crew would then consist of 39 members.

Still, there could be some players that the team looks at as possibly replaceable. Whether the front office is considering non-tendering certain players for the purpose of making room for minor league players that the team will need to add to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, or to potentially create space for free agent signings or trade acquisitions during the winter, may be motivated by a financial or performance-based consideration.

Presently, we shall examine the position players who are eligible for non-tendered status.

Jose Barrero

Not too distant in the past, the Cincinnati Reds considered Jose Barrero to be their long-term shortstop certainty. With the exception of the 2021/2022 offseason, he suffered a hamate bone fracture. Due to the impasse, an early diagnosis was unattainable, necessitating surgical intervention that impeded his ability to commence the 2022 season. Upon his return that season, he failed to generate much offense in the minor leagues or the major leagues. Despite a marginal improvement in his hitting performance while in the major leagues in 2023, he struggled further with a.619 OPS in 46 games prior to being optioned back to Triple-A.

In Triple-A, everything significantly improved. In 80 games with Louisville, he stole 20 bases in 21 attempts and compiled a batting line of.258/.333/.540 with 17 doubles, 4 triples, and 19 home runs. The pace and stamina performed admirably. However, he also recorded 31% of his pitches as strikes as he approached the plate.

His final option was exercised by the Reds in 2023. Notwithstanding his comprehensive development at the plate subsequent to his release from Louisville, he was not re-called by the Reds for the duration of the season. Barrero, who Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and potentially Noelvi Marte restricted from playing shortstop in the major leagues, did not play center more than once per week until September, which appeared peculiar at first glance.

Once more, it is evident that the club is devoid of a comprehensive strategy regarding its long-term intentions regarding Jose Barrero. His application in Triple-A was arbitrary, given that his anticipated function in Cincinnati appears to be that of a multipositional utility player. Nevertheless, for the current minor league season, the club restricted his playing time to the position of shortstop. He will have exhausted his options by the following year; he is 26 years old and currently employed.186-for-255 for one-third place in the most significant competitions.

An advantageous aspect is that he will be remunerated at the minimum wage mandated by the league, thereby diminishing the degree of unpredictability surrounding his participation in spring training. You are required to pay a roster position fee. And it is possible that a nominal financial investment will be required. However, ascertaining the club’s genuine intentions concerning him proves challenging; therefore, it might be advisable to abstain from additional discourse and extend sincere well-wishes.

Nick Senzel

In 2023, Nick Senzel produced his most productive offensive performance since his freshman year in 2019. He established a career high with thirteen home runs in 330 plate appearances. Nevertheless, his on-base percentage was 0.299 and his average hit was 0.236.

Historically, lefties have been attacked more frequently than righties by Senzel. However, the disparity between the sexes became especially evident in 2023. Senzel struggled against right-handed pitchers, accumulating a modest 0.497 OPS and a mere.164 SB. He also dominated left-handed pitching, however. Senzel hit.348 and slugged.619 in 126 plate appearances against left-handed batters.

Unquestionably more formidable is a bench that features a versatile player who excels at running the bases and destroying left-handed pitching. Under these conditions does Senzel achieve success. Money is a straightforward factor that could be operating against him. MLB Trade Rumors reports that Senzel is expected to receive a compensation increase to $3,000,000 for the 2024 season through arbitration.

Cincinnati should have an excessive quantity of cash on hand to spend during the 2024 offseason on the roster. However, the club will likely be looking for ways to reduce expenses. While the amount of $3,000,000 allocated for a reserve player may not seem like much, the organization could rationalize that by employing a player who earns the league minimum, they could potentially save several million dollars.

Stuart Fairchild

Stuart Fairchild debuted in the major leagues for the third time in the 2023 season, and he spent the most time there of any prior campaign. Fairchild appeared in 97 games for Cincinnati, but spent the majority of the year alternating between Triple-A and Major League Baseball. He amassed.228/.321/.388 with 16 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, and 10 stolen bases during his time in the major leagues.

Despite having spent portions of multiple years in the major leagues, Fairchild has not yet reached arbitration. He will therefore earn the bare minimum of the league in 2024 if he is tendered a contract. That will most probably work in his favor. His expertise as a bench player in the major leagues is an additional plus.

His limited availability is a detriment to his development, as the team has already exercised his final option in 2023. Additionally, there might be a throng in the outfield of the 40-man roster. It appears that Will Benson, Jake Fraley, and TJ Friedl have no intention of departing. Spencer Steer, who also spent a significant amount of time in the outfield, is also not leaving. There are also a number of Double-A and Triple-A players who have the option to be optioned back and forth if necessary and who could be added to the 40-man roster this offseason.

TJ Hopkins

TJ Hopkins debuted in the major leagues in June of 2023, following a successful season in Triple-A Louisville. He would make his Reds debut for two weeks, primarily off the bench, before being optioned back to Louisville. He would once more spend the majority of August in Cincinnati, coming off the bench on the days he participated in field action. He reached on-base percentage of.171 overall, with two walks in 44 plate appearances.

He is advantageous in that he has options, is not yet arbitration eligible, is a right-handed bat playing outfield for a team with a large number of left-handed hitting outfielders, and is coming off of a Triple-A season in which he hit.308/.411/.514. Although he possesses respectable speed that can be utilized as a substitute runner, he does not pose much of a threat to steal bases. His limited tenure in the major leagues with the Reds, during which he struggled as a bench option, worked against him.

Nick Martini

Nick Martini, who performed admirably in Korea in 2022, returned to the United States in 2023 and inked a minor league contract with the Reds. He struggled initially in Louisville, but ignited in late May, accumulating a.323/.428/.593 batting average from May 23rd to August 20th, when the Reds elected to promote him to Cincinnati. After joining the Reds, he continued to hit with considerable force, amassing a.264/.329/.583 slugging percentage in 79 plate appearances.

A factor that may be working against him is that he will turn 34 years old in June and has appeared in 141 major league games to date. He will continue to earn the bare minimum of the league, which is advantageous, and he dominated the ball for the organization in 2023.